Students at four Montana schools will be able to enhance their study of weather and water, improve their recycling program, expand their study of birds and insects, and increase their appreciation of how plants, shrubs and trees beautify the landscape — all thanks to grants from PPL Montana.

"There are few things more important to the future of Montana than increasing students' awareness of the environment, knowledge of science, and delight in learning," said Lisa Perry, manager of Community Affairs for PPL Montana. "That's why we are proud to support teachers who create meaningful learning experiences in the earth sciences."

Each of the four schools received grants of $1,500 through PPL Montana's Environmental Education Grants program to support educational activities that promote a beautiful and clean environment. A team of PPL Montana employees chose the winning projects.

The schools receiving grants this year are:

• Heritage Christian School, Bozeman, to enhance environmental studies with the purchase of new weather and water kits.
• Hillcrest Elementary School, Butte, to improve their recycling program by building a central storage area.
• Kennedy Elementary School, Butte, to create a habitat for birds and insects that will serve as an outdoor classroom.
• Lame Deer High School, Lame Deer, to design and install landscaping that will double as a learning lab.

"We salute all teachers and schools in Montana that use creative activities to enhance the curriculum and education of the students," Perry said.

School projects that focus on issues such as watersheds and wetlands, air quality, renewable resources, energy conservation and the greening of schools to enhance classroom study and academic standards, or that support extracurricular activities of school organizations and clubs, were eligible to receive the award.

PPL Montana sponsors the Environmental Education Grants program as part of PPL Project Earth, an initiative to educate the public about energy resources and the environment.

PPL Montana, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. With about 500 employees, PPL Montana operates the coal-fired Colstrip and Corette power plants and 11 hydroelectric facilities along the Missouri, Flathead, Clark Fork and Madison rivers and Rosebud Creek. PPL EnergyPlus, another PPL subsidiary, operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power in the wholesale energy market. More information is available at www.pplmontana.com.